Question

Why is adding green manure to soil significant? [2MARKS]

Answer 1

Explanation: 2 Marks

There is a time gap between harvesting a crop and sowing of the next crop. Instead of leaving the field without any plants on it during the gap period, a fast growing leafy leguminous fodder crop such as trifolium (barseem), or alfalfa or sasbania is sown. This crop grows soon and it yields green leafy fodder for the cattle. Its roots bear root nodules complete with nitrogen fixing bacterium. This enriches the soil with mineral nutrients. While preparing the field for sowing the next crop the field is ploughed along with green leguminous crop and its nodule bearing roots. The green plants along with the roots and root nodules go into the soil and decompse to form organic manure (compost). This is green manure.